{"id":142175,"date":"2020-12-26T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-26T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/does-your-computer-have-a-virus-heres-how-to-check\/"},"modified":"2020-12-26T11:00:00","modified_gmt":"2020-12-26T08:00:00","slug":"does-your-computer-have-a-virus-heres-how-to-check","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/does-your-computer-have-a-virus-heres-how-to-check\/","title":{"rendered":"#Does Your Computer Have a Virus? Here\u2019s How to Check"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2d19f574c02\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2d19f574c02\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/does-your-computer-have-a-virus-heres-how-to-check\/#What_Are_the_Signs_of_a_Virus\" >What Are the Signs of a Virus?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/does-your-computer-have-a-virus-heres-how-to-check\/#How_to_Check_if_a_Process_Is_a_Virus_or_Not\" >How to Check if a Process Is a Virus or Not<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/does-your-computer-have-a-virus-heres-how-to-check\/#How_to_Scan_Your_Computer_for_Viruses\" >How to Scan Your Computer for Viruses<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><strong>&#8220;#Does Your Computer Have a Virus? Here\u2019s How to Check&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_441338\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-441338 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/ximg_5d8551eeb6ee9.png.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+ws+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.VbY_DqUYuT.png\" alt=\"Concept image of a virus or another type of malware popping up on a laptop.\" width=\"650\" height=\"300\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-vector\/alert-notification-on-laptop-computer-vector-610682648\">vladwel\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Windows computers sometimes do get viruses and other malware, but not every slow or misbehaving PC is infected by malware. Here\u2019s how to check if you actually have a virus\u2014and whether that suspicious process is dangerous or not.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_the_Signs_of_a_Virus\"><\/span>What Are the Signs of a Virus?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Poor performance, <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>lication crashes, and computer freezes can sometimes be the sign of a virus or another type of malware wreaking havoc. However, that\u2019s not always the case: There are many other causes of problems that can slow down your PC.<\/p>\n<p>Likewise, just because your PC is running fine doesn\u2019t mean it doesn\u2019t have malware. The viruses of a decade ago were often pranks that ran wild and used a lot of system resources. Modern malware is more likely to lurk silently and covertly in the background, trying to evade detection so it can capture your credit card numbers and other personal information. In other words, modern-day malware is often created by criminals just to make money, and well-crafted malware won\u2019t cause any noticeable PC problems at all.<\/p>\n<p>Still, sudden poor PC performance may be one sign you have malware. Strange applications on your system may also indicate malware\u2014but, once again, there\u2019s no guarantee malware is involved. Some applications pop up a Command Prompt window when they update, so strange windows flashing onto your screen and quickly disappearing may be a normal part of the legitimate software on your system.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s no one-size-fits-all piece of evidence to look for without actually scanning your PC for malware. Sometimes malware causes PC problems, and sometimes it\u2019s well-behaved while sneakily accomplishing its goal in the background. The only way to know for sure whether you have malware is to examine your system for it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>10 Quick Ways to Speed Up a Slow PC Running Windows 7, 8, or 10<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Check_if_a_Process_Is_a_Virus_or_Not\"><\/span>How to Check if a Process Is a Virus or Not<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>You might be wondering if your computer has a virus because you\u2019ve seen a strange process in the Windows Task Manager, which you can open by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc or by right-clicking the Windows taskbar and selecting \u201cTask Manager.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-441329 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/ximg_5d85498554e9c.png.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+ws+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.iyCBdZ6Mkw.png\" alt=\"Opening the Windows Task Manager from Windows 10's taskbar.\" width=\"650\" height=\"214\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s normal to see quite a few processes here\u2014click \u201cMore Details\u201d if you see a smaller list. Many of these processes have strange, confusing names. That\u2019s normal. Windows includes quite a few background processes, your PC manufacturer added some, and applications you install often add them.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-441330 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/ximg_5d854a0c3aa7c.png.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+ws+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.d9NzLjiuyG.png\" alt=\"Windows 10's Task Manager showing running processes.\" width=\"650\" height=\"427\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Badly behaved malware will often use a large amount of CPU, memory, or disk resources and may stand out here. If you\u2019re curious about whether a specific program is malicious, right-click it in the Task Manager and select \u201cSearch Online\u201d to find more information.<\/p>\n<p>If information about malware appears when you search the process, that\u2019s a sign you likely have malware. However, don\u2019t assume that your computer is virus-free just because a process looks legitimate. A process could lie and say it\u2019s \u201cGoogle Chrome\u201d or \u201cchrome.exe,\u201d but it may just be malware impersonating Google Chrome that\u2019s located in a different folder on your system. If you\u2019re concerned you might have malware, we recommend performing an anti-malware scan.<\/p>\n<p>The Search Online option isn\u2019t available on Windows 7. If you use Windows 7, you\u2019ll have to plug the name of the process into Google or another search engine instead.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-441342 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/ximg_5d8554f7ecff4.png.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+ws+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.VrgloakY7L.png\" alt=\"Searching for a process's name online from the Windows Task Manager.\" width=\"650\" height=\"427\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>What&#8217;s the Best Antivirus for Windows 10? (Is Windows Defender Good Enough?)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Scan_Your_Computer_for_Viruses\"><\/span>How to Scan Your Computer for Viruses<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>By default, Windows 10 is always scanning your PC for malware with the integrated Windows Security application, also known as Windows Defender. You can, however, perform manual scans.<\/p>\n<p>On Windows 10, open your Start menu, type \u201cSecurity,\u201d and click the \u201cWindows Security\u201d shortcut to open it. You can also head to Settings &gt; Update &amp; Security &gt; Windows Security &gt; Open Windows Security.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-441333 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/ximg_5d854ee348377.png.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+ws+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.DB7knPDxqq.png\" alt=\"Opening the Windows Security application from Windows 10's Settings.\" width=\"650\" height=\"379\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>To perform an anti-malware scan, click \u201cVirus &amp; threat protection.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-441334 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/ximg_5d854f20dd637.png.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+ws+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.gdsyogXWoG.png\" alt=\"Opening the Virus &amp; threat protection settings in Windows Security.\" width=\"650\" height=\"367\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Click \u201cQuick Scan\u201d to scan your system for malware. Windows Security will perform a scan and give you the results. If any malware is found, it will offer to remove it from your PC automatically.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-441335 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/ximg_5d854f568d7bb.png.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+ws+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.V6A6bXviES.png\" alt=\"Manually scanning for viruses and other malware in Windows Security.\" width=\"650\" height=\"478\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>If you want a second opinion\u2014always a good idea if you\u2019re concerned you might have malware, and your primary antivirus doesn\u2019t find anything\u2014you can perform a scan with a different security application, too.<\/p>\n<p>We like and recommend <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.dpbolvw.net\/click-3607085-13772259?sid=441321\">Malwarebytes<\/a>, which pairs well with Windows Security to provide an extra layer of protection for your PC. The free version of Malwarebytes will let you perform manual scans to check for viruses and other malware on your PC. The paid version adds real-time protection\u2014but, if you\u2019re just looking to test a computer for malware, the free version will work perfectly.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-441336 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/ximg_5d855014839a5.png.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+ws+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic._QT9syoiRO.png\" alt=\"Scanning for malware with Malwarebytes on Windows.\" width=\"650\" height=\"451\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Windows 7 doesn\u2019t include built-in antivirus software. For free antivirus, you can download <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/help\/14210\/security-essentials-download\">Microsoft Security Essentials<\/a> and run a scan with it. This provides similar protection to the Windows Defender security software built into Windows 10.<\/p>\n<p>If your antivirus application finds malware but has trouble removing it, try performing a scan in Safe Mode. You can also ensure you don\u2019t have malware on your PC by resetting Windows 10 to its default state.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>How to Remove Viruses and Malware on Your Windows PC<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. 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Here\u2019s How to Check&#8221; vladwel\/Shutterstock.com Windows computers sometimes do get viruses and other malware, but not every slow or misbehaving PC is infected by malware. Here\u2019s how to check if you actually have a virus\u2014and whether that suspicious process is dangerous or not. What Are the Signs of a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":142176,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/thumbcache\/2\/200\/29b6e1e41f0499c5655606a660496a25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/img_5d8551eeb6ee9.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-142175","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142175","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=142175"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142175\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/142176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=142175"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=142175"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=142175"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}